Best Lures for Striped Bass

With so many fishing lures available out in the market, it may be a little confusing to find the perfect one that will serve you well, especially if you’re trying to target that prized striped bass. But most bass fishing enthusiasts know that there are no hard and fast rules to choosing the perfect lure — that’s why most of them bring an arsenal of different kinds of lures. After all, there’s no such thing as the one perfect lure to rule them all — especially a fish that fights like the striped bass. 

Most striped bass anglers fish with live bait, whether they’re fishing in saltwater or freshwater. But because striped bass can be, at best, unpredictable in the live bait they’re taking, bringing a wide variety of artificial lures to experiment with might be more effective and workable in the long run.

Apart from the lures themselves, there are other things to consider when choosing your fishing setup — the behavior of the fish in any given season, the condition of the water you’re fishing, the depth of the water itself, and whether there’s any cover or what type of forage there is in the fish’s environment. Knowing these things should help you choose your lure and how to best set it up and present it to your target fish.

Now, if you’re a newbie angler who’s still in the process of building your own bass fishing gear, here’s a quick guide on the best lures for striped bass that you can start your collection with. 

1.Topwater lures

Topwater lures are designed to mimic a wounded or dying fish that’s floating on the surface of the water. Out of all bass-fishing lures, the topwater types seem to be the most fun to target striped bass, as you can see the action right on top of the water. These lures create a lot of action and noise as well. 

Topwater lures are best used early in the morning, around sunrise, as that is when striped bass usually rise near the surface. It’s best to have them in different sizes and colors so you can easily switch around. Topwater lures such as the Atom Popper and the Rebel Jumpin’ Minnow can be used for both freshwater and saltwater, while the Rapala Skitter Pop and Pencil Popper are best used in freshwater. 

2. Jigs

Jigs are some of the most versatile artificial lures that any angler should have in their tool kit. The best thing about them is that they can mimic both baitfish and crustaceans. They can also be used in both shallow water and deep water. When paired with a braided fishing line and a heavy action rod, jigs can work wonders. 

The most popular jig of choice when targeting striped bass is the white Bucktail Jig. What’s great about this type of jig is that it can be used on the surface, in the mid-depths, and on the bottom using a variety of different fishing techniques. The standard color of choice for the bucktail jig is usually white, but some do combine colors like chartreuse or other colors that mimic any striped bass forage. Knowing the exact type of forage available to striped bass in the water you’re fishing may help in choosing the perfect color of your bucktail jig.

3. Umbrella Rigs

Umbrella rigs are best used when you’re trolling in deeper waters. These rigs appear like a school of baitfish with their spoons and swimbaits attached to a wireframe in formation. The key to using an umbrella rig effectively is to troll one slowly to attract fish, or if you’ve already spotted a school of stripers, then drop the rig on them while jigging slowly. If you’re lucky, you might get to hook a few with just one catch, so be sure you’re equipped with heavy-duty gear when using this particular setup.

4. Crankbaits

During spring and fall, striped bass come near the shallows but do not rise to the surface. In this case, you cannot use topwater lures on them. Crankbaits are best used during these seasons in freshwater. 

If you’re targeting actively feeding striped bass, use lipless crankbaits in black back chrome or bone white. Reel these crankbaits just beneath the surface of the water among schools of baitfish to target striped bass. No need to employ a high-speed reel if you’re using lipless crankbaits. These lures are best used with a standard retrieve wide-spoon reel.

If you’re fishing at night on shallow flats, use slender medium divers in shad or chartreuse or any color that resembles the forage available in the water you’re fishing in. 

If you’re out in the open water trolling or hunting for bass in humps and points as deep as 20 to 30 feet, then use deep divers in shad or white. 

5. Spoons

With their simple curved design and presentation, spoons are great and surprisingly effective in luring striped bass. Submerged in water, they create a lot of vibration and show a lot of flash, much like a wounded fish. Silver spoons are the most popular choice among anglers, but gold is best and most effective if you’re fishing in stained or muddy waters or in low light conditions. 

There are a number of different kinds of spoons in various colors and sizes available. One of the most iconic, and definitely one you should have in your collection, is the Acme Kastmaster Spoon, which is not only effective on striped bass but on any freshwater and saltwater species as well. Silver and blue plus silver and chartreuse are fantastic basic colors for the Acme Kastmaster, though having some in gold should be beneficial to any angler as well.

Other lures and rigs can be used in targeting striped bass successfully, so you should not be afraid to try out even ones that are not on this list. After all, fishing is not just about catching that trophy fish — it’s also about learning more about your target fish and your environment, experimenting with lures and setups, plus mixing and matching rigs with different fishing techniques, all to improve your fishing skills while having the best time possible.

A Few Striped Bass Resources:

-Striped Bass Fishing, fishing tips, techniques, and best destinations

-Striped Bass Migration, article tracking the Striped Bass Atlantic Coast migration

-Striped Bass Fish, learn about the striped bass, habitat, fishing, migration and more

-Striped Bass Bait, top 10 striped bass baits

-Striped Bass Cape Cod, expert guide talks about catching striped bass on Cape Cod 

-Striped Bass Chesapeake Bay, expert guides talk about catching striped bass on Chesapeake Bay